Should I Have Done Things Different?

T

tom mcgonagle

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Looking back at the many decisions I've made in my life, concerning the game of pool, should I have made different choices, or stuck to my guns.

People used to ask me, "Why don't you, drop everything and get out there and play professionally? You play well enough to do it." I usually responded, "I don't think the game offers enough for me to just up and leave my job and take a shot at playing professionally. It wouldn't be a wise choice for me to make. I'd probably end up living in a dumpster."

This was at a time when the game was at it's last peak.

I'm glad I made the choices I made in my life concerning the game of pool.

I could have possibly done fairly well at the time I was playing my best but there were no guarantees. I was ten or fifteen years into working at my job and throwing all that away just didn't make sense to me.

I went through a period in the late sixties and early seventies where I couldn't even find a game in my area and I though to myself, "What if this all happens again?"

I could have also been nicer to some of the people out there that I personally though were in the game only for their own benefit and could care less about pool players in general. "I don't know, call me crazy, but I'm still around the game and most of these people and the people they were catering to are gone."

"Maybe I needed to pucker-up and kiss more butt than I did." NAW THAT'S NOT MY STYLE.

I'm glad and fortunate to have made some of the wiser choices in my life, when it came to playing pool.

I'm having more fun than I ever had, playing and teaching the game now.

_______________________________________

http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
 
Think everyone what if, and it is too bad we can not turn back the hands of time, and relive life. But I am sure we would just make different decisions that we would say again...WHAT IF!!!!
 
tom mcgonagle said:
Looking back at the many decisions I've made in my life, concerning the game of pool, should I have made different choices, or stuck to my guns.

People used to ask me, "Why don't you, drop everything and get out there and play professionally? You play well enough to do it." I usually responded, "I don't think the game offers enough for me to just up and leave my job and take a shot at playing professionally. It wouldn't be a wise choice for me to make. I'd probably end up living in a dumpster."

This was at a time when the game was at it's last peak.

I'm glad I made the choices I made in my life concerning the game of pool.

I could have possibly done fairly well at the time I was playing my best but there were no guarantees. I was ten or fifteen years into working at my job and throwing all that away just didn't make sense to me.

I went through a period in the late sixties and early seventies where I couldn't even find a game in my area and I though to myself, "What if this all happens again?"

I could have also been nicer to some of the people out there that I personally though were in the game only for their own benefit and could care less about pool players in general. "I don't know, call me crazy, but I'm still around the game and most of these people and the people they were catering to are gone."

"Maybe I needed to pucker-up and kiss more butt than I did." NAW THAT'S NOT MY STYLE.

I'm glad and fortunate to have made some of the wiser choices in my life, when it came to playing pool.

I'm having more fun than I ever had, playing and teaching the game now.

_______________________________________

http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
Click to expand...

You made the right decision Tom! I tried it and there wasn't any reward for being a player back then, except a life of hustling games. Smartest move I ever made was buying a pool room and going to work running the place. I made money EVERY day and got to play pool too.
 
Tom
It would seem to me that you have answered your own question with the statement "I'm having more fun than I ever had, playing and teaching the game now". It would seem to me the worst thing anyone could do is look back and think what if? My Dad used to tell me that the decision you make at the time is usually the right one, even if you don't know why at the time, I think it's generally sound advice.

If I had tried all those years ago, I would have been lucky to find a Dumpster.
 
Tom,

It sounds like your in a good place in your life now. Everyone can look back and question some of the decisions they made in their past. But, in reality, there is nothing to gain looking back in the past and regretting decisions other than learning from them. Look forward to new decisions and use the past ones as a teacher.


Darryl
 
Nice post, Tom, and wise decision. Only a few can make it to the top, and even if you had made it you might still have been pretty hard up. The recent thread on Earl Strickland illustrates that.

And if your livelihood depended on how you played, you might not have played as well as you were capable of. That's a lot of pressure. Some thrive on it, but I suspect most don't.
 
You made the right decision Tom, don't give it a second thought. I had the chance with backing and turned it down. Like you, same time frame, I knew only the elite few had a chance. I knew pool would never go anywhere at least in my life time. There was no money in tournaments, all you had was the other option.

Now payouts are higher but ones level drops off as you get older so you can't compete. There is the other option but no medical, 401k's,steady income and on and on. Try going to work when you're older with a resume as a pool player. No doubt you made the right choice.

Rod
 
a thought occured to me...

First, there is no doubt about it, the decision you made was a smart one. Pool's pension plan just doesn't stack up very well against the one you've earned. :thumbup: And, typically, someone who tries to make pool their main livelihood endures way too much stress. It's a hard life, as you know.

So, security is the name of the game and it seems like you're in a good spot now, in that regard, as a result of your decisions.

The thought: While I was watching the recent Denver Open on stream I was thinking how that would have been a fun tourney to be in. The guys were shooting real good and the place looked quite nice. Then, as I oftentimes do, I started dissecting the possibilities. For as many people who entered and competed in the D.O., there was only going to be one winner. And for spending an entire weekend there, battling away against a lot of good competitors, if you were skilled (and lucky?) enough to make it to the finals and then take it down, you get, I forget exactly how much, but something like $1200. Subtract from that, your eats, drinks, entry fee, lodging, gas and whatever other incidentals. Do the math and you'll see you didn't do real well financially, especially per hour.

But yes, there was also the possibility of getting into some action while you're there, as long as you can work it out between your match schedules. Although, if you're a good player, you're likely a known quantity, and so you won't be doing any robbing so matching up will result in some real gambling. Good luck with this.

I think 2nd got somewhere around $800. and 3rd maybe $500. After expenses for the weekend, I think these two guys break about even, or a hair above, and so they must rely on some successful action to come out in the black.

This reminds me of the weekend APA tourneys that take place just outside of Hartford nearly every weekend. A good buddy of mine was excited that he and his brother, both great players, finished second in a partners tourney there a couple of months ago. They spent both Saturday and Sunday there from 10 am til 7 pm and won $260. ($130. ea). The entry fee was $30 or $40 and they don't let you bring in any food, water, nothing, so you're paying them for all food and beverages. Again, the math isn't looking so good. There's no way I'm getting trapped at "Big Shots" for 18 hours on a beautiful weekend, for $130, minus entry fee, eats, drinks, and gas. :frown:

For the pro events where there has been relatively big payouts (not enough of these), you would have had to get past the likes of Efren, Earl, Mika, Johnny, etc., etc., to get the cash. Not easy work.

I am happy for the good business decisions I have made in my life. It's all in nice perspective. Security and pool is a beautiful thing. The hare seems to live a most interesting life but that danged tortoise keeps getting the last laugh. :grin:

We can be exciting tortoises, can't we? :wink:

Best,
Brian kc
 
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Tom,

This is an interesting question, and some very good, practical responses. My feeling is that if you're on the fence and feel the need to ask this question, you shouldn't make pool your livelihood...so you did the right thing.

Forget about how difficult it is to make a living at this game, if you have the passion at a young age, and that's all you would be happy doing, then do it. No matter what the financial consequences are - it's what you were meant to do. (although if asked I would tell all to go back to school and/or work).

Personally, pool/billiards has been a fantastic hobby for me and I have enjoyed competing in the few tournaments I get to enter, but financially, I'm glad as heck I decided to go back to school and work. I did have an opportunity to become really good at 3-cushion and was being urged to do so, but the fact that I started to calculate the earning potential was enough to tell me I did the right thing. Even though it is hard when you are close to being one of the best at something (in the US, not the world - that was out of reach :().

I know I made the right decision, and I know in my heart you did too. If it was the right thing for you to play pool for a living, this question would never come up, you would just do it!

Now back to the Dippy soaps :).

Dave
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
First, there is no doubt about it, the decision you made was a smart one. Pool's pension plan just doesn't stack up very well against the one you've earned. :thumbup: And, typically, someone who tries to make pool their main livelyhood endures way too much stress. It's a hard life, as you know.

So, security is the name of the game and it seems like you're in a good spot now, in that regard, as a result of your decisions.

The thought: While I was watching the recent Denver Open on stream I was thinking how that would have been a fun tourney to be in. The guys were shooting real good and the place looked quite nice. Then, as I oftentimes do, I started dissecting the possibilities. For as many people who entered and competed in the D.O., there was only going to be one winner. And for spending an entire weekend there, battling away against a lot of good competitors, if you were skilled (and lucky?) enough to make it to the finals and then take it down, you get, I forget exactly how much, but something like $1200. Subtract from that, your eats, drinks, entry fee, lodging, gas and whatever other incidentals. Do the math and you'll see you didn't do real well financially, especially per hour.

But yes, there was also the possibility of getting into some action while you're there, as long as you can work it out between your match schedules. Although, if you're a good player, you're likely a known quantity, and so you won't be doing any robbing so matching up will result in some real gambling. Good luck with this.

I think 2nd got somewhere around $800. and 3rd maybe $500. After expenses for the weekend, I think these two guys break about even, or a hair above, and so they must rely on some successful action to come out in the black.

This reminds me of the weekend APA tourneys that take place just outside of Hartford nearly every weekend. A good buddy of mine was excited that he and his brother, both great players, finished second in a partners tourney there a couple of months ago. They spent both Saturday and Sunday there from 10 am til 7 pm and won $260. ($130. ea). The entry fee was $30 or $40 and they don't let you bring in any food, water, nothing, so you're paying them for all food and beverages. Again, the math isn't looking so good. There's no way I'm getting trapped at "Big Shots" for 18 hours on a beautiful weekend, for $130, minus entry fee, eats, drinks, and gas. :frown:

For the pro events where there has been relatively big payouts (not enough of these), you would have had to get past the likes of Efren, Earl, Mika, Johnny, etc., etc., to get the cash. Not easy work.

I am happy for the good business decisions I have made in my life. It's all in nice perspective. Security and pool is a beautiful thing. The hare seems to live a most interesting life but that danged tortoise keeps getting the last laugh. :grin:

We can be exciting tortoises, can't we? :wink:

Best,
Brian kc
Click to expand...

Brian,

I agree completely. You typically have to finish in the top 4 to break even or better, depending on how far you travel. Tough action...but it's still fun once in a while. If you find yourself in CO in the future, please PM me. I live an hour north of Denver.

Dave
 
12squared said:
Brian,

I agree completely. You typically have to finish in the top 4 to break even or better, depending on how far you travel. Tough action...but it's still fun once in a while. If you find yourself in CO in the future, please PM me. I live an hour north of Denver.

Dave
Click to expand...

Hi Dave;

I was stationed for 18 months at Fort Carson, in Colo Springs. I was lucky to have an apartment off base and remember vividly the stunning view from my kitchen window. When I washed my dishes I was staring out at Pike's Peak. Magnificent!

Garden of the Gods, Rainbow Falls (the trout there were ridiculous!), Manitou Springs...The Divide...what a beautiful state CO is.

Just before shipping out to Germany, I went to say goodbye to a friend in a gorgeous remote(ish) area in Colo Springs featuring dirt roads and spectacular views. As I drove toward her house I saw a For Sale sign on an adjoining road and it was two combined lots totaling 13 acres. I was leaving the next day but scrambled and made it happen with the help of the good folks at Fort Carson Credit Union. All that I remember now is the road name was Calle Corva Drive and my property made up all of it. I wish I still had that land but was made an offer I couldn't refuse 5 years later.

So, be on guard, Dave, I may take you up on your offer to say hello some day. Colorado is definitely on my 'must get back to' list. :smile:

Best,
Brian kc
 
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I believe you made the right choices Tom. Family and security first and everything else comes 2nd in my book. Good rolls at TS. Johnnyt
 
Had the same decision

I knew from a very early age I loved this game and would play it my whole life. I looked around my pool hall at some of the best players and they would be living out of the back of their cars. Its a wonderful game but unfortunately if your not top 10 in the worlds its going to be a very rough road. I went on to get my MBA but still play the game every day (bought a table - cant believe how much money that in itself has saved me). Its a great hobby that pays a little on the side with lessons and tournaments. No regrets - also have the greatest respect for guys that choose to play for a living. Thats true heart!!

Chris
 
I do not think that throwing your entire life away to play pro pool is really the path a guy has to take is it?

You can have a life, and be a great player...It is just the best excuse in the world to blame your job, kids, wife, car payment, bills blah blah blah...The only reason anyone ever misses a ball is because they hit them in the wrong spot.

Almost every true champion has had a job, kids, a wife, bad friends and even worse relatives, most even have some kind of bad habit too. That is called life, these are the things that build character. Without these blessings they are the walking dead anyway. It maybe easier for the walking dead to play pool, but dont envy them....they traded their lives to make little pool balls fall in big holes. Worse than that they can still be beat by anyone that can swing a cue...

There are much better ways to make money off of money than on a pool table.

I think that spending my entire life playing pool would be a waste of life. I like so many other things too.
 
Tom don't have any regrets. Playing professionally is a long shot even if you do have the skills necessary. It's not like like you abandoned the game. You still play it, instruct and write about it. If you still can shoot well put yourself into the regional tournaments or make a trip out of it. Go to Derby City, enter the U.S. Open, maybe stop by Florida and play in one of the Seminole events. If you have the time the drive and the passion which im sure you do go for it. Don't have any regrets about your past decisions in life. What we experience in life through our past decisions helps to mould us into the people we are today. :smile:
 
I'm not going to try to sling some bull at this point. I'm sure a lot of you know I'm trying to promote myself and sell my book, Right on Cue, on this forum.

I personally thought it was as good a place, as any, to start. After all, this is a pool and billiards sight and I figures the people here would be interested in a book about pool.

"If I were a world champion. Instead of a person that played and beat, some World Champions and still held a full time job and raised a family. Would it make a difference as to whether or not you might purchase my book? Inquiring minds want to know.

________________________________

http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
 
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